Synology DS218+ vs Synology DS218play Review: Pros and Cons
Choosing between Synology DS218+ vs Synology DS218play is indeed not easy because both NAS comes with great features. But you don’t have to worry because this review will reveal the best things about both products that will help you make an informed decision.
Synology DS218+ Review
Design
The first time we looked at the product, we were surprised because the design of Synology DS218+ doesn’t look like the typical Synology design. It looks more stylish, modern, and beautiful curves and edges make the product looks more attractive.
The premium material is also an excellent addition. Just one glance and you know that this is not an ordinary NAS.
Features
If you are looking for remarkable network-attached storage that is suitable for home and small business use, stop looking because you have found the right product. One of the best things about DS218+ is its 2 GB DDR3L-1886 RAM that can be expanded up to 6 GB.
Furthermore, This excellent storage also comes with a powerful 2.0 GHz dual-core processor. The powerful processor is paired with the AES-NI hardware encryption engine that will ensure the safety of your data.
Synology DS218+ is suitable for small businesses because it is capable of handling the intense workload. The reading and writing speed is 113 MB/s and 112 MB/s, respectively. With this NAS, backing up data will be more time-efficient.
You also definitely will love its Quick Connect feature. This feature allows you to access the data you saved on the storage across devices, no matter where you are.
Synology DS218+ Pros and Cons
- Comes with a dual-core 2.0 GHz processor.
- The RAM capacity is expandable to 6 GB.
- The design is more modern compared to its competitors.
- 4K transcoding capability ensures high-quality playback.
- Lacks lockable tray panel.
- It only has one LAN port.
See also: Synology DS218+ vs QNAP TS-251 Review
Synology DS218Play Review
Design
In terms of design, Synology DS218play comes with a simpler style. It doesn’t have any complex curves or edges, and it features the classic Synology body.
Synology DS218play is also a little bit smaller and lighter compared to the first product. Despite its simple design, this multimedia NAS still looks attractive, thanks to the black matte color and the placement of the indicator lights.
Features
Synology DS218play is a multimedia NAS that will be suitable for everyone who wants to back up their precious movie collections. It comes with a 1.4 GHz 64-bit quad-core processor and 1 GB DDR4 RAM. This combination results in a dramatic reading and writing speed of 112 MB/s.
As multimedia storage, its 4K video transcoding feature is commendable. You can conveniently save your multimedia data on the storage and access it easily from various devices with different formats. Since this Synology NAS comes with a large room, you can freely save plenty of multimedia files.
Synology DS218play might lack some of the remarkable features that we can find in Synology DS218+. However, it is not going to be a problem if you want to look for a reliable NAS for personal multimedia use.
Synology DS218play Pros and Cons
- Low power consumption.
- Quiet operation.
- Reliable quad-core processor.
- Great video transcoding feature.
- For a multimedia NAS, some important multimedia features are still missing.
- The features and capacity are only suitable for home use.
Conclusion
From the review and comparison between Synology DS218+ vs. Synology DS218play above, it is safe to say that the first is the best among the two.
Synology DS218+ is a versatile NAS that can be used for various purposes from multimedia storage, personal to small business use. But if you want decent multimedia storage for home use, Synology DS218play also will not disappoint.